Press pad



United States Patent O PRESSPAD Sam M. Hyman h/Ianitowoc, Wis.

Applcation'lune 8, 1951, SerialiNo. 23:0;5'2-1 Claims.y (El. 38--6.6.)

This invention relates topress pads for steamI pressing machines of the kind commonly' employed in dry cleaning plants, laundries and the like.

Such machines ordinarily comprise a lower elongated platen or buck, adapted to receive and support the garment or other article. to be pressed, and a cooperating upper movable platen of similar shape opera-ble to apply the required pressure. Both platens are4 usually hollow and the coacting faces thereof perforated so that hot steam supplied tothe buck may pass therethrough and into the article under treatment.` The perforated faces of both platens arev commonly covered: by suitable steam permeable materials, ordinarily including layers of fabric.

The purpose of the steam in machines of" this type is to impart a high nap nish to the garment' or other' article under treatment, but to accomplish this desired resultyit is important that provision be made for effectively cushioning or softening the pressing action. For this purpose various kinds of cushions, pads, or padding materials have been applied* to the lower platen or buck as a part of the covering therefor, but none heretofore employed have proven satisfactory. Some, evenwhen new, l'ack the high degree of resilience required for best results, while others become compacted or break down prematurely under the temperatures and pressures to which they are subjected in normal use.

One object of' the present inventionis toprov'de an improved pad having an enduring capacityto eiectively cushion the pressing action in machines of the character mentioned-l Other more speciiic objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied',` fromthe following description of a pad constructed in accordance withA the present in vention. p

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a pad embodying the present invention and showing the same applied to the buck of a conventional steam pressing machine.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View of the pad on a larger scale. r i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken` onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 1. that of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4' is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of pad embodying the present invention.`

The pad illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3` is shown applied `to. the lower elongated hollow platen or buck of a conventional steam pressing machine. As usual, the buck 10 is supported i'n iixed elevated horizontal position on a central pedestal 11 fixed to and arising from a suitable mounting base 12. Machines of this kind commonly include an upper movable hollow platen (not shown) for coaction with the buck 10, the upper platen being i This view is on a scale larger than 2,719,370 Patented Det. 4 1955 lCC the art, further description thereof' is deemed unnecessary.

The pad shown includes acushion 15 comprising a mass of heat conducting fibrous material preferably rather closely meshed to render the cushion substantially form sustaining and of sufficient thickness to alford a high degree of resilience. I have found? that steelA shavingst are well suited for this purpose in that the bers thereof possess the desiredl strength, heat conductivity and re silience, and stand up well under the temperatures and pressures to which such pads are subjected in normal pressing operations. Moreover, it' has been found that a cushion of steel shavings possessing the above noted characteristics is readily penetrated by the steam transmitted from the buck 10, particularly when the shavings are substantially coarser than in commercial` forms of steel wool. It has also been found that the form sustaining quality of the cushion is enhanced when made up of severalI superimposed preformed layers of fibrous materials with their edges crimped or pressed into matted union.

The cushion 15 i-'s adapted to seat upon the` perforated face 14' of the buck I0= and is shaped toconform to the contour thereof and toI completely cover the same. The cushion is retained? in place by an overlying flexible cover specially constructed to provide a `rather softsteampermeable surface4 for' receiving the garment or other article to be pressed. In this instance the cover shown comprises a multiple-layer structure including upper and lower layers I6 and 17 of. suitable fabric, such as a heavy grade of muslin, with an interposed layer 18 of soft maferial` such as sponge rubber therebetween. The fabric layers 16 and I7 are sewed together preferably along and throughout the edges- 19 thereof so as to provide a retainer envelope for the intermediate layer 18. The fabric layers 16 and 1-7 preferably extend, as at 20, well beyond theV intermediate layer 18' throughout the periphery thereof for a purpose that will later appear, and a continuous strip of asbestos sheeting 21', interposed between `these extended portions 20, extends inwardly to and beneath the margins of the layer 18` of rubber throughout the periphery of the latter. The asbestos strip ZI is secured to the fabric layers 16 and 17 by suitable means, such as gromets 22, and is preferablyl sewed and glued or otherwise surface-bonded, as at 23, to the rubber layer 128 to securely position the latter within the envelope.

The cover is preferably permanently attached to the cushion I5. In the pad shown this is accomplished by tying the. under fabric layer 17 of the cover to the cushion 15 at spaced intervals along the length of the latter, as indicated at 24. These ties may be variously formed by stitching extended through the cushion at points with in the central region of the latter.

The. extended portions 20 of the fabric layers 16 and E7 are utilized to secure the pad to the buck lll. After the cushion 15 of the pad has been seated on the face 14 of the. buck in position to completely cover the same, the extended portions 20 of the cover are drawn downwardly against and inwardly beneath the sides and ends of the buck and ultimately secured in place preferably by suitable spring connectors 25 engaged in the gromets 22 theretofore mentioned. The connectors shown extend crosswise of and beneath the buck, each being releasably engaged at opposite ends With opposite side extensions of the cover in a manner to effectively tension the latter.

It will be noted that a pad has been` provided that is Well adapted to carry out the purposes hereinabove noted. The resilient cushion 15 constructed in the manner above described provides a rather firm, yet resilient, steam-pen meable base well adapted to cushion the pressing action and to distribute and substantially equalize the operating pressures throughout the pressure area, and well able to indefinitely withstand repeated applications of such pressures and the steam temperatures to which it is normally subjected, Moreover, the cover, including the layer of sponge rubber 18, provides a rather soft surface readily yieldable to accommodate heavy seams, buttons or other hard elements in or on the article being pressed, thus avoiding the unsightly impressions commonly resulting from such elements. In this connection it will be further noted that, by reason of its yieldability, the heavy strains, stresses, and distortions to which the pad is subjected are largely assumed and absorbed by the cushion 15, the cover with its contained sponge rubber 18 being limited substantially to the functions above ascribed to it and for which it is well suited.

It will also be noted that the under fabric layer 17 offers substantial protection for the sponge rubber layer 18 against the high steam temperatures transmitted through the cushion 15, and that the margins of the rubber layer 18 are reinforced and strengthened by the asbestos strips 21, the latter also serving to insulate and additionally protect the rubber against the steam temperatures. This arrangement adds materially to the life of the rubber. y

The asbestos strips 21 are preferably arranged so that, when the pad is applied to the buck in the manner above described, these strips extend upward along the sides of the cushion so as to embrace or encircle the same and thus resist unwanted escape of steam laterally from the pad.

The pad shown in Fig. 4 is similar in many respects to that hereinabove described. It includes, as a base, a cushion comprising a mass of steel shavings, and a multiple-layer cover comprising upper and lower layers 16 and 17 of fabric and an intermediate layer of sponge rubber 18. The fabric layers 16 and 17' preferably extend well beyond the intermediate layer 18', as indicated at 20'; and underlying these extended marginal portions 20 is a layer of asbestos 21 applied to the under side of the lower fabric layer 17 and extending inwardly beneath a margin portion of the rubber layer 18. The outer edges of the fabric and asbestos layers 16', 17 and 21 are securely joined by stitching 19 or otherwise, the asbestos layer being additionally secured by stitching 26 along the inner edge thereof. The fabric and asbestos layers 16', 17 and 21 are additionally joined by a series of gromets 22 disposed adjacent the periphery of the rubber layer 18 and serving to confine and position the latter.

A multiplicity of eyelets 27 distributed over and applied to that portion of the lower fabric layer 17 beneath the rubber 18 provide Ventilating openings and also serve as convenient anchorage for the several tie wires 24 by which the overlying cover is attached to the cushion 15.

As in the pad first above described, the cover, including the marginal extensions 20', provides a convenient means for attaching the pad to the buck 10, the gromets 22' being adapted to receive the spring retainer members 25 heretofore described. When applied to the buck the asbestos 21 functions to resist escape of steam latterly from the cushion 15 and to protect the extensions 20 of the layers of fabric against the high temperature walls of the buck.

Various changes may be made in either embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a unitary press pad for the purposes indicated the combination of a form sustaining mass of metal shavings forming a resilient cushion of substantial thickness, a relatively thin cover including a layer of fabric, a layer of sponge rubber overlying said layer of fabric, and a layer of fabric overlying said layer of sponge rubber and having extended marginal portions for embracing the marginal edge of said cushion for securing the same in pressing position, means connecting said first named layer of fabric to marginal portions of said sponge rubber to position the latter, and anchoring means for securing the central portion of said cover to the upper surface of said `form sustaining resilient cushion.

2. In a unitary press pad for the purposes indicated the combination of a form sustaining mass of metal fibers forming a resilient cushion of substantial thickness, a relatively thin cover including a layer of fabric, a layer of sponge rubber secured to and overlying said layer of fabric, and a layer of fabric overlying said layer of sponge rubber and having extended marginal portions for embracing the marginal edge of said resilient cushion for securing the same in pressing position, a strip of asbestos material surface-bonded to marginal portions of said sponge rubber layer to reinforce the same, said strip having portions laterally extended beyond said sponge rubber and fixed to said layers of fabric, and anchoring means for securing the central portion of said cover to the upper surface of said form sustaining resilient cushion.

3. In a unitary press pad for the purposes indicated the combination of a form sustaining steam-permeable resilient cushion of substantial thickness, a steam-permeable cover comprising upper and lower layers of fabric joined to form an envelope, and a layer of relatively soft sponge rubber confined within said envelope, said envelope having extended marginal portions for securing said unitary press pad in pressing position, and anchoring means for securing said lower layer of fabric to the upper surface of said cushion.

4. In a unitary press pad for the purposes indicated the combination of a form sustaining steam-permeable resilient cushion of substantial thickness, a relatively thin cover including a layer of fabric, a layer of sponge rubber overlying said layer of fabric, strips of asbestos surface-bonded to and beneath the marginal portions of said layer of sponge rubber to reinforce and insulate the same against the steam temperature within said cushion, a layer of fabric overlying said sponge rubber and having extended marginal portions for securing the pad in pressing position, and anchoring means for securing the central portion of said first named layer of fabric of said cover to the upper'surface of said form sustaining resilient cushion.

5. In a unitary press pad for thefpurposes indicated the combination of a form sustaining steam-permeable cushion of substantial thickness, a relatively thin cover including a layer of fabric, a layer of sponge rubber overlying said layer of fabric, strips of asbestos attached to and underlying the marginal portions of said layer of sponge rubber to embrace the sides of said cushion so as to resist the escape of steam laterally therefrom during the pressing operation, a layer of fabric overlying said sponge rubber and having extended marginal portions for securing said pad in pressing position, and anchoring means for securing the central portion of said first named layer of fabric in position on the upper surface of said form sustaining cushion.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,647,545 Rocco Nov. 1, 1927 1,666,870 Beck Apr. 17, 1928 1,839,553 Heighes Ian. 5, 1932 1,895,731 Prenzel Ian. 3l, 1933 2,199,157 Hamilton Apr. 30, 1940 2,269,804 Allaback Jan. 13, 1942 2,481,833 Foster Sept. 13, 1949 2,482,412 Gershon Sept. 20, 1949 2,490,981 Reiss et al Dec. 13, 1949 

